Grace Lee may not have been born Filipino, but the TV host considers Manila her home. The shy child who moved to the Philippines with her family at just 10 years old has definitely come a long way. “We came here without knowing any English or Filipino,” she says. The transition, however, wasn’t difficult. “Napaka-accommodating talaga ng mga Pilipino. Noong una kaming dumating dito, we were so warmly welcomed by all our neighbors. We didn’t even speak the language, and yet we felt the love,” recalls Grace.

Years after the big move, she was able to establish a name for herself as a TV and radio personality. But more than her career accomplishments, Grace says she is happy to have found a place where she truly belongs. “The values that have been ingrained in me are very Filipino. I really love it here, and I think I’m meant to be here,” she says.